l8 Hall, Notes on the Magpie (Gymnorhina leiiconota). {^^ihTvAv 



then inevitable. The same occurs if one has overstepped the 

 other's boundary in search of food. 



The Magpies show great parental affection — I do not think any- 

 other birds are equal to them in this respect. For fully six 

 months they care for their young and feed them, at the same 

 time keeping a strict supervision over them. The parents exact 

 the most prompt obedience. When fledged, so as to follow 

 the old ones out to the fields to be fed, every young bird must 

 take its turn in feeding. Should one of them be so forward as 

 to be too loud in its demand, it is punished and thrown down, in 

 which position it has to remain until its time. When the old 

 ones rise to fly the young must follow and sit near, and on no 

 account must the young go beyond the limit of area of the 

 family. At the age of about two and a half to three months the 

 young birds are permitted to look for their own food, but always 

 in the vicinity of their parents. Quarrels over dainty morsels 

 are settled through the parents, by simply taking away the 

 " bone of contention." Intercourse with the neighbouring brood 

 is not permitted. 



The mating of a pair is generally for life. Should, however, 

 a separation occur through the death of one member, the 

 selection of another mate takes place in a remarkable manner. 

 The widowed female is mated to a male bird of a neighbouring 

 brood with great eclat. The widower, however, is left to shift 

 for himself. He generally watches his chance to force himself 

 between another pair and drive his adversary away. The 

 female bird in such case remains passive, and does not take 

 part in the quarrel. Should the intruder not be strong enough 

 to achieve his wish, he appears to get some friend to help him, 

 until his opponent is expelled. 



The time of mating the young birds is a most interesting 

 period in the life of a Magpie. This takes place during the 

 middle week of April in the Wimmera, Victoria. On such an 

 occasion several families with their offspring will assemble on 

 neutral ground. The ceremony is opened with warbling, piping, 

 and a mingled noisy chorus. All seem to be on friendly terms. 

 This goes on for several days, when the old birds withdraw from 

 the merriment and the young continue to select their partners, 

 which, as a rule, is accomplished without much difficulty. As 

 soon as this is done the parents again appear on the scene, to 

 drive the young couples forcibly away : in no circumstances will 

 they allow them to choose their new home near the place where 

 they were reared. Nor are they permitted to visit the place 

 again, not even on a flying visit. From the moment they have 

 been mated they are looked upon as strangers and treated as 

 such. Even those of the young birds that remain un mated, for 

 whatever reason, are driven from their old home. 



In any district where the species or sub-species has kept 



